reflections on past experiences are all based on memories of what we did, felt, saw, etc...and the emotions that stayed with us as a result of those experiences. whether we take away feelings of happiness, enlightenment, sadness, regret, comfort, excitement, or even "nothingness"...it all comes about as a result of something that occurred.
now call me shallow, but i don't think i have the time or mental capacity to delve into my "abstract" thoughts and pull out something entertaining to read based on pure intangible memories. nothing wrong with people who can (write off the top of their head), it's just something that i've lost the knack for. BUT, give me something tangible that triggers my memory about a place/event, and i can probably tell you a pretty decent story. i guess that's why they have souvenirs. in my case, a ton of my souvenirs from Japan are all wearable, and all have a story (some more interesting than others) behind them.
SO...
...i've decided to make the most of my memorabilia and use it to help me tell the stories that are all gathering cobwebs in the crevices of my brain. instead of me just pulling something out of my arse, i'll use each item as a starting point of interest; give some background info or whatever memories it helps me conjur up...and then i'll start pulling stuff out of my arse to fill up the rest.
ideally, each post will have:
-a different t-shirt (or other odd item obtained in Nippon)
-a brief description of why i bought it etc...
-info on where i bought it, and for how much (yes, i've somehow got this crazy section of my brain that remembers this stuff)
-any other interesting/relevant info about the place/episode/time that comes to mind when reminiscing...(salespeople/shop owners/background info about the city/place/slum)
SO, without further adieu...here's the first of many, MANY to come:
"Pretty Pig" is what i'm told the kanji here mean. we all know Asian countries are infamous for their knock-off merchandise, and Japan is no different...except that they don't try to pass it off as the real-deal. it's quite tongue-in-cheek, and as in this case...hilarious enough that people like myself will buy it precisely b/c we know it's not the brand that it's taking a jab at. the fact that the pattern is on the pig's "fundoshi" is cool too. "fundoshi" is that thong/diaper thing that sumo wrestlers wear...i TOTALLY wanted to find one of those for myself, but lucky for you i was unable to find one. still, the shirt was too cute to pass up, and you have to admit the design/imitation is pretty well done. i got the one above in 2008 at this shop in Rinkutown, close to Kansai Airport which is ways south of Moriguchi, about 1.5hr by train. the shirt was 1500yen (so about $15), and it's actually the second one i bought. =P
i bought this l/s one back in 2007 some time at the same shop...different location:
the navy one was 2000yen (probably b/c sleeves cost 500yen to make)...and as you can see, it was somewhat popular w/ the students:
so there you have it..."Pretty Pig".
matta ne...
